Breaking Health

Money doesn’t just “disappear” from hospitals. It leaks through thousands of tiny cracks: contract terms no one can audit fast enough, pricing updates that lag for weeks, rebates that never get claimed, and invoices that don’t match what was negotiated. Host Michelle Snyder speaks with Sumit Kadakia, co-founder and CEO of Midstream Health, to talk about financial intelligence in health care and why the next wave of digital health can’t be only about revenue cycle management. Sumit shares why he believes providers have hit an inflection point where “more revenue” is no longer a strategy. Instead, health systems need a clearer, more atomic view of unit economics so they can recover margin they have already earned. He breaks down what Midstream is building: an autonomous financial operations platform he calls a “second financial brain” for CFO and COO teams, designed to prevent and recover financial leakage across supply chain, pharmacy, and managed care. LINKS:    HealthEdge  McKesson Ventures Midstream Health 

When new treatments, trial opportunities, and better care pathways exist, the real question becomes: can patients reach the right specialist fast enough for it to matter? Sandra Abrevaya, CEO of Synapticure, joins the podcast with host Michelle Snyder to unpack how she and her husband turned a personal ALS diagnosis journey into a mission to change access to neurology care at scale. Abrevaya shares about founding I Am ALS and helping drive major federal progress in ALS research funding and legislation. The conversation also digs into the gap between scientific breakthroughs and real-world care delivery, the “care and cures” strategy, and why Synapticure treats clinical data as a core asset from the start. LINKS:    HealthEdge  McKesson Ventures Synapticure   

PTSD has often been associated with specific demographics for decades, which leaves millions of individuals unseen. Sofia Noori, co-founder and CEO of Nema Health, joins Breaking Health to unpack what trauma really looks like in the U.S., why sexual assault and domestic violence are among the most likely triggers, and how people often end up treated for “anxiety” or “depression” when the real driver is unresolved trauma. With host Payal Agrawal Divakaran, their conversation delves into how Nema delivers first-line, evidence-based PTSD treatment, what “dose and frequency” means for therapy, and why completion matters so much. They also discuss why payers are willing to reimburse high-quality trauma care and the story behind Nema’s partnership with Gabrielle Union.  If you care about trauma therapy and better outcomes that hold up in real life, share this with someone who needs it and leave us a rating and review. LINKS:    HealthEdge  .406 Ventures Nema Health 

Brigham Hyde, CEO and cofounder of Atropos Health, joins Breaking Health to discuss his journey transitioning from clinical research to bridging the evidence gap—and how he and his team created more evidence than many others in the field. With host Michelle Snyder, their conversation explores impressive moves by big tech companies, the AI hype cycle (and how significant agentic AI is in healthcare), and what the industry talks about too much—and too little. Plus, an exciting announcement on what’s next for Atropos! LINKS:    HealthEdge   McKesson Ventures Atropos Health 

What will the obesity landscape look like in the next few years? Brooke Boyarsky Pratt, founder and CEO of knownwell, shares her thoughts on the impact of GLP-1s on Breaking Health, hosted by Michelle Snyder. Boyarsky Pratt also discusses the shifting mindset on treating obesity as a disease instead of just an issue of willpower, creating a space for obesity patients to feel comfortable seeking help, and the use of AI, as well as the impact of pivotal decisions toward company growth and lessons learned from expanding into new markets.  LINKS:    HealthEdge  McKesson Ventures knownwell, Inc.  

Jess Gaulton, CEO and founder of FamilyWell, has created a space where women can find care for their mental health during their reproductive journey, including for post-partum depression. In this episode of Breaking Health, hosted by Payal Agrawal Divakaran, Gaulton discusses why her company is also focused on menopause, how they're making their resources accessible and affordable, and why OB-GYN's are so willing to send patients to FamilyWell. Plus, Gaulton shares what inspired her to go from practicing medicine to entrepreneurship, her venture capital experiences, and the best and worst parts of being a founder. LINKS:    HealthEdge.406 Ventures FamilyWell Health 

Making women’s health resources accessible has been a perpetual challenge in the industry. In this episode of Breaking Health, host Michelle Snyder speaks with Joanna Strober, CEO of Midi Health, about how her company is providing a platform to empower women to take control of their health. Strober shares the history of Midi and how it evolved into something bigger than anticipated. She discusses how the company trains providers and “follows the women” to understand what their customers need and want. Strober also gives advice on fundraising and building a strong brand that makes customers feel seen and heard.  Links from this episode:  McKesson Ventures HealthEdge  Midi Health 

How are innovators driving sustainable ventures to transform Medicaid and improve care for underserved populations? During May’s Digital Healthcare Innovation Summit, Zeena Johar, entrepreneur in residence of Frist Cressey Ventures; Chris Johnson, founder and CEO of Bluebird Kids Health; Aditi Mallick, former CMO of Medicaid and director of Minority Health at CMS; and Jenny Ismert, CEO of Community Plan of Kansas at UnitedHealthcare Community & State gathered to discuss scalable solutions, funding strategies, and the role of technology in addressing complex challenges within Medicaid. Moderated by .406 Ventures’ Payal Agrawal Divakaran, the panel provided insights into creating lasting impact while navigating the evolving digital health and policy landscape. 

Ty Wang, co-founder and CEO of Angle Health, is working to ensure that anyone can access healthcare in a convenient and efficient way. Tune into this episode of Breaking Health, where host Steve Krupa speaks with Wang about shifting from engineering and government to healthcare and creating a platform that delivers comprehensive healthcare benefits while removing administrative barriers. Wang discusses the value proposition Angle Health is putting forth and what member experience is like on the platform, as well as shares advice for entrepreneurs that are at the early stages of starting their own company.  Conversations between VCs and entrepreneurs typically occur in boardrooms or coffee shops. In the Breaking Health Podcast, you get a seat at the table. Healthcare Chief Executive Officer Stephen Krupa, HealthEdge Software, Inc., brings his more than 20 years’ investor experience insight to revealing conversations with the most disruptive CEOs in healthcare. Listen to understand how these leaders are building the companies—and fostering the cultures—that will change everything.  Links from this episode:  HealthEdge  Angle Health